Jake650
XS650 Addict
Well, been around for awhile taking advantage of the knowledge here while putting an old 650 back on the road. I built this 12 years ago, rode it a couple of years and when life rearranged my priorities I parked it. Now that I made it retirement and have a "little" bit more control over life's inputs, it seemed a worthy project to put it back on the road. With the help of gggGary on some parts, the carbs were successfully rebuilt and it now runs. It felt good to ride again and a special thanks to gggGary for his help.
I had such a good time with this one I started the search for a worthy candidate for restoration. Yeah.. it's like having a beer. One just doesn't cut it and but your tastes change and ya start looking for a better one. Well before getting the custom on the road I put a want ad on Craig's List and to my great surprise I got reply's. First one was for a 1980, whereas the price was good I really wanted an earlier model. Then came the second reply... A 1971 XS1B for a price I just could not pass up.
It's all there with a lot of extra parts. There is no rush to get this one done because I want to do it right. I also have learned from getting the custom one done that being older presents other issues. The custom is kick only and I quickly learned that my right knee protests a "lot" with kick starting it. Even knowing the problem my knee would present I would not have been able to pass up the 71 though.
What I am thinking and seeking input on is changing the 71 to have electric start. I do have extra motors; a later 256 and 447 series. However both are short a crank and cam. The 256 had heavily pitted bearing surfaces and the 447 had a section of piston sleeve come off which took out bearing surfaces and cam lobe surfaces. My thought is to get one of the extra motors back together and put it in the 71. The battery box on the 71 holds a much smaller battery so I would need to change it out to a later model box allowing a larger battery. Other things like starter button and relay will need to be worked in too.
So the plan for a restoration needs to take a turn to a "close" to restoration, but one that will allow me to enjoy it much more. All thoughts, advice and input are welcomed and encouraged on this idea.
I had such a good time with this one I started the search for a worthy candidate for restoration. Yeah.. it's like having a beer. One just doesn't cut it and but your tastes change and ya start looking for a better one. Well before getting the custom on the road I put a want ad on Craig's List and to my great surprise I got reply's. First one was for a 1980, whereas the price was good I really wanted an earlier model. Then came the second reply... A 1971 XS1B for a price I just could not pass up.
It's all there with a lot of extra parts. There is no rush to get this one done because I want to do it right. I also have learned from getting the custom one done that being older presents other issues. The custom is kick only and I quickly learned that my right knee protests a "lot" with kick starting it. Even knowing the problem my knee would present I would not have been able to pass up the 71 though.
What I am thinking and seeking input on is changing the 71 to have electric start. I do have extra motors; a later 256 and 447 series. However both are short a crank and cam. The 256 had heavily pitted bearing surfaces and the 447 had a section of piston sleeve come off which took out bearing surfaces and cam lobe surfaces. My thought is to get one of the extra motors back together and put it in the 71. The battery box on the 71 holds a much smaller battery so I would need to change it out to a later model box allowing a larger battery. Other things like starter button and relay will need to be worked in too.
So the plan for a restoration needs to take a turn to a "close" to restoration, but one that will allow me to enjoy it much more. All thoughts, advice and input are welcomed and encouraged on this idea.
) you had a later model donor frame, and transplanted the down tubes, so the '71 could accept a later motor? Hmmmmm... 
might be better to do the trade for a later bike (like a '75 maybe?) with an electric start, then chop up what appears to be an unmolested motorcycle. Like somebody on here said "...it's only original once." Let us know (we're nosy!). 
turn signals removed (why do people always do that?), the electrical system botched, and was left to hold up the side of a shed for years. Since it needs all new everything, it's going to go back together as a "resto-mod". The trick is finding a specimen in restorable condition. Unfortunately, that's becoming increasingly difficult (and expensive!). If you have to have one, and you have the wherewithal, see "Mailman's XS2 a full on restoration". It's worth reading the whole thing (we distract him over the course of 159 pages), but it's a virtual how-to on an essentially nut-and-bolt restoration. It won't help you with your electric start modification 
, but it will cover the rest. Good luck, and lots of pictures!
